Edwin R. Holmes
Encyclopedia
Edwin Ruthven Holmes was a United States federal judge
.
Born in Sidon, Mississippi
, Holmes graduated from Millsaps College
in 1896 and from the University of Mississippi
in 1899. He received an LL.B. from the University of Texas in Austin, and was in private practice of law in Yazoo City, Mississippi
from 1900 to 1918. He was mayor of Yazoo City from 1904 to 1908.
On October 17, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
nominated Holmes to the United States district court
s for the Northern and Southern districts of Mississippi, both seats having been vacated by Henry C. Niles. Holmes was confirmed by the United States Senate
on October 24, 1918, and received his commission the same day. On March 1, 1929, Holmes' service on the Northern District was terminated, but he continued to serve as a judge on the Southern District until his next judicial assignment.
During his time as a district court judge, he earned the ire of former Governor of Mississippi Theodore Bilbo
by sentencing him to thirty days in jail for contempt of court
.
On August 23, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
nominated Holmes to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
vacated by Nathan Philemon Bryan. He was confirmed on March 19, 1936, with only Bilbo voting against his confirmation. He received his commission on March 20, 1936, and assumed senior status
on November 30, 1954, thereafter serving as a senior judge until his death.
United States federal judge
In the United States, the title of federal judge usually means a judge appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate in accordance with Article II of the United States Constitution....
.
Born in Sidon, Mississippi
Sidon, Mississippi
Sidon is a town in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 672 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area.-Geography:Sidon is located at ....
, Holmes graduated from Millsaps College
Millsaps College
Millsaps College is a private liberal arts college located in Jackson, Mississippi. Founded in 1890, the college is recognized as one of the country's best private colleges dedicated to undergraduate teaching and educating the whole individual. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, Millsaps...
in 1896 and from the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
in 1899. He received an LL.B. from the University of Texas in Austin, and was in private practice of law in Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
from 1900 to 1918. He was mayor of Yazoo City from 1904 to 1908.
On October 17, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
nominated Holmes to the United States district court
United States district court
The United States district courts are the general trial courts of the United States federal court system. Both civil and criminal cases are filed in the district court, which is a court of law, equity, and admiralty. There is a United States bankruptcy court associated with each United States...
s for the Northern and Southern districts of Mississippi, both seats having been vacated by Henry C. Niles. Holmes was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on October 24, 1918, and received his commission the same day. On March 1, 1929, Holmes' service on the Northern District was terminated, but he continued to serve as a judge on the Southern District until his next judicial assignment.
During his time as a district court judge, he earned the ire of former Governor of Mississippi Theodore Bilbo
Theodore G. Bilbo
Theodore Gilmore Bilbo was an American politician. Bilbo, a Democrat, twice served as governor of Mississippi and later was elected a U.S. Senator . A master of filibuster and scathing rhetoric, a rough-and-tumble fighter in debate, he made his name a synonym for white supremacy...
by sentencing him to thirty days in jail for contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
.
On August 23, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
nominated Holmes to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Eastern District of Louisiana* Middle District of Louisiana...
vacated by Nathan Philemon Bryan. He was confirmed on March 19, 1936, with only Bilbo voting against his confirmation. He received his commission on March 20, 1936, and assumed senior status
Senior status
Senior status is a form of semi-retirement for United States federal judges, and judges in some state court systems. After federal judges have reached a certain combination of age and years of service on the federal courts, they are allowed to assume senior status...
on November 30, 1954, thereafter serving as a senior judge until his death.